It's said that your school years are the best years of your life, but for one Chelmsford's head teacher he claims to have the "best job in the world".

Joe Figg is executive head teacher at Purleigh Community Primary School and Meadgate Primary School just outside Maldon.

The schools teach around 208 children, and Joe says getting to know their quirks and personalities is the best thing about teaching.

"The idea is that instead of perhaps having one ineffective head in one school and an effective head in the other that it would be better to have the on effective head teacher in both schools," he said.

"I am also the CEO of The Eveleigh LINK Academy Trust where I oversee the running of three other schools.

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"I met up with the senior leadership team to talk about any issues as the children has just come back from half term and we also start planning for the summer term.

"I then had a business manager's meeting at Maltese Road School where we reviewed our attendance and went through various other aspects- and that was all before lunch."

Joe Figg is executive head teacher of both Purleigh Primary and Meadgate Primary

Lunch

For this busy head teacher, lunch does not mean a long leisurely trip to Costa. He has a bit to eat and catches up on emails before jumping straight back into meetings.

Joe said: "I had a social care meeting where I met and talked with social workers.

"With my job I attend a lot of meetings and talk to a lot of people but I still get to work in the school, I still get to meet parents, I still get to talk to all the staff, we have a really good team."

Afternoon

During the afternoon, Joe has the chance to catch up with students and children as he makes his way to Meadgate School, where he is also executive head teacher.

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"I had a GDPR discussion reviewing our attendance and various other aspects," Joe begins.

"Back at Meadgate, I met a series of parents who wanted to enroll their children here and showed them around the school.

"Meeting parents and children that want to come here is so exciting, from five years when the school was in special measures, it was brought up to 'Good' until we managed to get an 'Outstanding' rating by Ofsted.

"I then walked around the school speaking with some of the children, seeing how they are, telling them to tuck their shirts in.

"I then popped over to our newly done out swimming pool before going around speaking to staff, catching up with them.

"I think it's important to not just act as a head teacher but to really involve myself in the community."

Joe's day didn't even stop there as he attended an Audit and Risk Committee meeting later on in the evening before finally making his way home.

Timeline of a day in the life of a Chelmsford head teacher

7.50am

10.00am

Joe attended a School Business Manager's meeting at Maltese Road School.

12.00pm

Joe attended a social care meeting and met with social workers.

3.30pm

GDPR discussions take place.

7.30pm

Audit and Risk Committee meeting.

Although his day-to-day job is full-on, sometimes stressful and constantly keeps him busy, Joe admits he wouldn't change it for the world.

He said: "It's the best job in the world, it's exciting to see all the children come on leaps and bounds and progress in their reading and writing.

"I make sure that I know all the children's names in both schools, I know all their parents names, I welcome all the children at the gates so I know around 400 names.

"I'd like to think I have a really good relationship with our staff, if anyone has any issues they come to and I ask them to focus on a solution. It's all about giving children the best possible chance."